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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Debbie Hall

Details hammered out after nurses in West Lothian and beyond vote for strike action

Details are being hammered out to decide what health services will be effected as nurses across the country vote to strike.

Nurses at St John's Hospital and across West Lothian have voted for industrial action over pay.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing were balloted for the first time in 106 years after the most recent Scottish Government offer of a flat rate of £2,205 per person was rejected.

The RCN, Scotland's largest nursing union, described the deal as a real-terms pay cut due to spiralling inflation in the economy.
The trade union also accused the government of not listening to the concerns of staff working in the NHS.

But Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, stressed there is no new money for nurses to end the dispute.

RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “I want to thank every member who took part in, or supported, this ballot. You can be very proud. The results are strong and clear.

"This is a defining moment in our history, and our fight will continue through strike action and beyond for as long as it takes to win justice for the nursing profession and our patients.

"Anger has become action – our members are saying enough is enough. The voice of nursing in the UK is strong and I will make sure it is heard. Our members will no longer tolerate a financial knife-edge at home and a raw deal at work.

"Ministers must look in the mirror and ask how long they will put nursing staff through this. While we plan our strike action, next week’s budget is the UK government’s opportunity to signal a new direction with serious investment. Across the country, politicians have the power to stop this now and at any point.

"This action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses. Standards are falling too low and we have strong public backing for our campaign to raise them. This winter, we are asking the public to show nursing staff you are with us.”

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